Tio’s Cafe, 2248 Tapo St., Simi Valley. 638-0240, www.tios-cafe.com: The spacious breakfast and lunch cafe offers a wide range of popular wake-up items beginning at 7 a.m. and continues through 3 p.m. serving breakfast and lunch. Options run from basic steak & eggs to a lox Benedict; scrambles full of flavor, such as a day’s special artichoke version; French toast and waffles like the fresh fruit-topped Howie’s version; South of the Border Specials; plus lots of sandwiches for the lunch bunch.

Fluid State Beer Garden, 692 E. Main St., Ventura. 699-6467: Buoyed by carefully chosen food, a wide selection of beverages and a delightful sense of humor, the new spot is a welcome addition to Downtown Ventura. Orders are taken at a counter, with a daily menu available to peruse before choosing. The day’s special charcuterie plate is also listed on a blackboard. A simple slice of pizza, with an especially rustic crust and unusual combinations of toppings is a good place to start, but even items as simple as a deviled egg or as basic as a salad are treated with a sense of the possibilities of basic foods.

Le Petit Cafe Bakery, 1591 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 112, Ventura Harbor. 642-1191: The cafe and bakery, thriving at its present location since 2001, is open for lunch and dinner, with different hours for different days of the week. Ample French favorites, from crepes to croissants and Croque Monsieur to Confit de Canard, are available and enlivened by fresh local ingredients. There are surprises like a day’s special soup of a surprisingly pleasant blend of sweet potatoes and jalapeños, or a delightfully light goat cheese baguette with sun-dried tomatoes. And there’s always the bakery, also with a French accent.

​​​​​​Dong Ting Spring, 520 N. Ventu Park Road, Suite 150, Thousand Oaks. 262-0888: If you’re looking for authentic Hunan-style Chinese food, this is the place to find it. There are lots of items on the new restaurant’s menu that you won’t find on other area Chinese eatery menus, among them specialty fish filet with pickle, egg and corn sweet soup, house beef rolls, chicken feet, stinky tofu and spicy duck necks. More familiar items also are served, but the main dishes really stand out as coming from a different take on Chinese food.

​​​​​​PokeRamen, 429 E. Hueneme Road, Port Hueneme. 246-5541, www.pokeramen.com: The months-old restaurant features appealingly fresh poke, ramen and cupbop dishes with a Korean sensibility along with a small assortment of sushi rolls. It’s ordered at the counter but served at tables. Owner and staff are particularly helpful to customers, especially at times when there isn’t a large crowd during its lunch or evening hours. The poke is especially appealing and fresh, the ramen tingles the tongue with its bright flavors and the cupbop is very satisfying.

Finney’s Crafthouse and Kitchen, 982 S. Westlake Blvd., at Westlake Plaza in Thousand Oaks. 230-9950: Greg Finefrock’s new watering spot offers Craft Draft with emphasis on local and regional brews. The food is fun and fine, too, with Bratwurst Minis, mahi-mahi tacos, mushroom burgers and The Daisy Club Sandwich among the offerings.

CiCi’s Cafe, 30990 Russell Ranch Road, Westlake Village. 818-874-3391: Following in the successful footsteps of its sister cafe, which opened in 2006 in Tarzana, the new site offers an amazing array of pancakes, waffles, French Toast and crepe options, along with salads, burgers and such, served in the pleasant indoor area or on the sunny patio. Forget-Me-Not crepes are memorable, as are the Corn Island pancakes, to mention a few of the countless tempting options. The service is as good as the food.

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar, 511 Town Center Drive, The Collection, Oxnard. 278-4997. The recently opened shellfish and other seafood restaurant features an abundance of choices including oysters, seafood sashimi and carpaccio, sushi rolls and small plates among starters, plus main dishes from the grill or steamer and combinations teamed with pasta or rice. Arriving during happy hour, 3 to 6:30 p.m. will get you price reductions on some of your favorites.

Sakura Cha Ya, 2810 S. Harbor Blvd., Channel Islands, Oxnard. 901-3104: The homestyle preparation at the Japanese kitchen in the harbor’s food court features fresh traditional dishes that range from a flavorful okonomiyaki, Japanese-style pizza, to familiar curries, tempura, bowls, noodle dishes and rice balls. If you’re hungry it’s best to get there well before 5 p.m., when they close Tuesdays through Thursdays, and Sundays. On Friday and Saturday nights, the eatery remains open till 8 p.m. Pork katsu don features a generous portion of breaded pork cutlet and there may be surprises that aren’t on the menu but are featured for the day.

Burgerim, 587 N. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park. 375-0066, www.burgerim.com: First of the chain of restaurants founded in Israel to arrive in Ventura County, it features mini burgers with main item patties available made of beef, turkey, lamb, dry-aged beef, chicken, chorizo, salmon, veggies, spicy beef and Wagyu beef. The lamb and dry-aged beef stand out with fuller flavors and a touch of moisture. The mini burgers come with house sauce, lettuce, tomato and onions, and customers may add toppings that range from pineapple and jalapeño, to sautéed mushrooms or even a sunny-side up egg.

Blaze Pizza, 301 Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. 368-0593: The concept is simple. All of the pizzas are built on thin crusts as customers choose either a Signature Pizza for which the ingredient combinations are already designed or choose-your-own toppings, freelancing through the array of sauces, cheeses, meats, veggies and “finishes,” with counter staff adding whatever you point at. It doesn’t matter, as it all costs the same price per pizza, $8.45. Salads and desserts are also available, with the former possible as one of the toppings on your personalized pizza. The Art Lover pizza is popular, and even if you don’t find all the toppings you want on that particular pie, you can have some more ingredients added as you pass along the line.

Lucky Thai Cuisine, 1141 S. Seaward Ave., Ventura. 444-4563; www.luckythaiventura.com: Less than a year old, the wide-ranging Thai restaurant offers oodles of options in its appetizers, soups, main dishes and desserts, with tom kha and tom yum among the soups; green, red, yellow, pumpkin or mango among the curries; pad see ew a choice among the noodles; spicy basil duck among the fried rice offerings; and cashew nut with shrimp a wok possibility. Thai iced coffee is as refreshing in looks as it is in flavor.

Trinity Coffee and Foods, 230 S. 10th St., Santa Paula. 525-0777: It’s homestyle Vietnamese food prepared by owner Tri Nguyen, featuring the popular noodle-soup dish pho along with egg rolls, spring rolls, bahn mi and bahn xeo. It sits inside a colorfully painted old house, with the interior fresh and more contemporary in style. There are choices of pork, chicken, shrimp and vegetable egg rolls and all have a distinctively homemade touch.

Luna Grill, the Mediterranean group of restaurants is represented by two new sites in Ventura County: 5752 Telephone Road, Suite A-1, Ventura, 650-3500, and in Oxnard at The Collection, 691 Collection Blvd., Suite 1100. 278-1115: Favorite dishes like kabobs, wraps and salads are offered by themselves or in various combos. Signature Plates offer a healthy take on simple dishes that are popular and fun to eat.

Carnitas El Brother, 439 W. Channel Islands Blvd., Port Hueneme. 228-0912: Opened within the past four months, the new Mexican grill specializes in carnitas (pork) and other meats in traditional preparations, along with many familiar Mexican favorites. Consome El Brother, a hearty soup filled with a variety of veggies, is a good way to start a meal. Tacos Dorados Dona Luz is one of the specialties, with a huge mound of carnitas covered with a sauce of peppers and onions in a tomato sauce over crisp tortillas served along with rice, beans, lettuce and tomato. Fish a la plancha is a seafood favorite.

Mesa Burgers, 315 Meigs Road, on the high plateau Mesa area of Santa Barbara. 963-7492: www.mesaburger.com: The new order-at-the-counter spot offers burgers made with 100 percent custom-blended chuck, brisket and short-ribs with fascinating combinations of enhancements designed by co-owner and first woman TV Iron Chef Cat Cora, who lives in the Mesa area. With burgers bearing area names like Funk Zone, Mission, Downtown and Leadbetter, Cora adds top quality enhancements like goat cheese, bourbon-glazed mushrooms, onion rings and truffle aioli to the Montecito Burger. A "daily catch" fish sandwich or a grilled chicken breast sandwich are available, as well. Along with lager and ales on tap, beverages also include stouts and such, along with a beer float.

Grabbagreen, 2835 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 418-5959: The franchise new to California is run by Dustin Wilson and family who have enthusiastically embraced the healthy vibe evident throughout the menu. Diners order at a counter from an array of variations on items including salads, grain-based hot dishes, breakfast items, and special beverages. There are multiple set preparations but also opportunities to design your own version of ingredients and style. The French Quarter warm grain, spinach and shrimp preparation is one of the winning dishes.

Limon y Sal, 598 E. Main St., Ventura. 628-3868: The new restaurant in the historic downtown Ventura building most recently housing Watermark restaurant offers a wide-ranging Mexican menu with other dinner staples. Carlos Ortiz is the owner, one of a family that began El Pescador restaurants in Southern California in 1983. From a queso fundido appetizer to hearty entrées, there are lots of options for a satisfying meal.

Cask Alehouse, 5952 Telegraph Road, Ventura. 765-4201: The new alehouse offers a varied light menu with a few hearty sandwiches, all with professional touches that makes them stand out. Cask offers 32 ales, on a rotating schedule, along with the appetizers, salads, craft sandwiches, pizza, flatbread and desserts. Service is friendly and the setting is comfortable

Urban Plates, 162 W. Hillcrest Drive, Suite 100, Thousand Oaks. 946-1920; www.urbanplates.com. The new, to Ventura County, order-at-the-counter eatery is full of healthy choices, or as the menu says, “real meals made from scratch.” Greens, aka salads, abound and are joined by various plates with central items plus a choice of sides, plus sandwiches, braises and stews. The chicken-vegetable soup is exceptional. Central items on “plates” include grilled wild-caught albacore, chimichurri grass-fed steak, and sweet & sour plum BBQ ribs. You might want to save room for dessert, even a shared one.

Wicked's Brew, 4561 Market St., Suite C, Ventura. 275-2334; wickedsbrew.com: The large and multi-faceted space is home to not just fresh and inventive breakfast and lunch offerings, but features a communal table, coffee bar and other spaces to gather. Breakfast features favorites with creative twists, including a French omelet, the chef's breakfast sandwich and a Farmers Market Bowl. Customers order at the counter from a menu full of fresh choices.

Janchi Korean BBQ, 15 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, in the Janss Marketplace. 501-3842: A new experience in a long-standing spot, Janchi has transformed the space into a soothing setting with comfortable booths. While it serves lots of tempting Asian dishes, the experience of grilling your own choices of meat and/or seafood on the mounted grill in the center of the table is almost irresistible. The Janchi Combo Special comes with rice, green salad and multiple interest-piquing side dishes, steamed egg among them. An experienced server can add greatly to the fun, acting as coach on everything from how to cut up the selected meats to making best use of the sauces and seasonings.

Harvest Cafe, 175 S. Ventura Ave., Ventura. 523-8105: The new cafe in the WAV (Working Artists Ventura) complex in downtown Ventura caters especially to vegans, but has food with very fresh veggies and fruits, most locally grown. There are always dishes of the day, from soup to salads to pizzas, in its ever-changing menu.

Bad Ass Street Tacos, 2951 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 370-8226: The small eatery’s tacos are now available indoors, where the hungry may find space to dine, or on an inviting outdoor patio, next to the parking lot. The tacos are tiny but have an abundance of flavor, featuring everything from fish and short rib to chorizo and potatoes. Also available are quesadillas, burritos and other Mexican casual-dining specialties.

Tomas Cafe and Gallery, 622 South A St., Oxnard: A family restaurant that serves bountiful breakfasts and lunch, the cafe offers countless choices with traditional, Mexican and contemporary preparations on its extensive menu. The handsome wood interior and art displays add to the pleasant atmosphere. Familiar items like a giant cinnamon roll or a hearty “half” serving of biscuits and gravy are bound to tempt even the hungriest guests, though the omelets, pancakes and such are equally appealing. For lunch time, there’s an array of sandwiches, burgers, tacos and salads.

Kanaloa Seafood, 251 Lombard St., Oxnard. 966-5159; www.canaloa.com: New to Oxnard is Kanaloa’s lunchtime food service, which turns out fresh and delicious specialties made with high-quality seafood for which the original Kanaloa, established in 1983 in Santa Barbara by Don and Randee Disraeli, is noted. Lunch is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the seafood market open for customers who want to purchase fish from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lunchtime items include a clam chowder, Korean and al pastor tacos, and depending on the day’s selections, a fresh ahi tuna melt or salmon burger.

Pizzscotti Trattoria & Bakery Bar, 1555 Simi Town Center Way, Suite 290, Simi Valley. 261-0543; www.pizzscotti.com: The new eatery with special bakery items along with lunch options of an Italian tilt. There’s also Sunday brunch. Bakery treats abound, but paninis, like the Little Italy version, or salads including a Cranberry Chicken option, are also available. Cooked dishes begin at the 4 p.m. dinner hour.

Rumfish y Vino, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura, in the space that once housed Tutti’s. 667-9288: For a peppy assortment of seafood preparations, Rumfish fills the bill, from a Caribbean fish stew to Creole ono or sea bass, to fish and chips. For non-fish diners there is an assortment of salads, the Rumfish lasagne and hanger steak. Dining is indoors at tables of varying heights, plus bar seating, and outdoors in the courtyard.

Cork, 1930 E. Main St., Ventura. 667-8866; Corkventura.com: The new and contemporary wine and beer spot with creative small plates, flatbreads, sandwiches and salads to enjoy while you sip is a bright spot on Ventura’s mid-Main Street. Raised tables, soft couches and bar stools equipped with hooks on which to hang a handbag or pouch provide comfort along with refreshing wines and dishes such as avocado shrimp stack, Nonna’s Famous Empanadas, carnitas flatbread and grilled cheese sandwiches featuring Kerry Gold Irish cheddar.

Cagami Ramen, Camarillo Plaza, 1855 E. Daily Drive, Suite B, Camarillo. 383-0963; www.cagamiramen.com: The new ramen-plus restaurant is small but offers sushi-style counter seating plus a handful of comfortable booths. Best of all, it offers exceptionally good ramen under the leadership of owner Yuya Ueno, a native of Japan who polished his cooking skills after arriving in California in 2008 and apprenticing and working at restaurants and sushi spots in Santa Barbara and in the L.A. area. His traditional ramen is prepared with patience, precision and a fine sense of seasoning. Fresh fish is also offered in several presentations, tataki versions on long slender plates and small bowl options in which fish is arranged over a rice base.

Country Harvest, 3345 Kimber Drive, Suite B, Newbury Park. 375-4598: The bountiful flow of tasty traditional food continues to emanate from the restaurant under new ownership by Chris DePalma and Matt Bovard after founder and longtime owner Debbie Triatik retired and headed for her native Wisconsin. Two large dining rooms, with traditional decor and menu items, plus lots of options catering to contemporary taste buds, are the site of food service from breakfast through dinner, plus brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Tasty treats include the Summer Garden Quiche and fresh-baked blueberry pie.

Barrel 33, 1067 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura. 652-1810, www.barrel33.com: New owner for the past three months M. Parfait Eklu welcomes guests, in French and English, for evenings of wine-sipping and a delicious array of small bites, salads and main dishes. Some of the dishes come in combination with selected bottles of wine and also can be ordered separately. Beer selections and other beverages are available. Standouts on the current menu include The Ventura pizza, burrata caprese and Petite Chocolate Fantasy.

Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant, 1610 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite J, Thousand Oaks. 230-3585, www.moquecarestaurant.com: An extension of the original Moqueca at Oxnard’s Channel Islands, the same family has opened up the new site, bringing the simple but superb flavors that originated on the southeast coast of Brazil, where Maria Gloria Sarcinelli learned the secrets of savory regional food. Moqueca itself is a broth, usually with fish as its main ingredient, cooked in a special bowl made from black clay and mango tree sap. Both restaurants offer a variety of moqueca dishes, with the new site run by Rodrigo Reis, Maria’s son. The lobster moqueca is extraordinary, but the appetizers and desserts are special, too.

Soule Park Golf Course restaurant, 1033 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. 646-5633: For a meal with a view, the restaurant at Soule Park Golf Course offers ample selections for breakfast (until 2 p.m.), lunch and light dinner on weekdays and had recently started serving weekend dinners. Breakfast items include a tasty spinach omelet and if you arrive on a day when the lunch special sandwich is the Beefeater, go for it. There are also lots of other sandwiches, burgers and salads to choose from.

Burrito Express, 240 S. Ventura Road, at Second Street, Gold Coast Plaza, Oxnard. 385-9700, burritoexpress@me.com: Owners Pablo and Marta Garcia run a family-style restaurant featuring traditional recipes going back generations from their Mexican roots. They opened Burrito Express in 2004 and expanded it in 2012, adding a beverage machine and fruit and salad bar. Portions are bountiful, prices are very reasonable. Standouts include the shrimp burrito, quesadilla, chile relleno combo and fish taco.

KreAsian Kitchen, 3845 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 230-3590, www.kreasiankitchen.com: One of the newest eateries in a crowded shopping center, KreAsian offers a do-it-yourself option in which the customer points to the specific element to be melded into a burrito, sushi roll, rice bowl or salad. Among the items designed by the eatery itself, the Mango Tango Burrito is a satisfying mouthful.

Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen, 591 Collections Blvd., at The Collection in Oxnard. 457-5550: Taking a playful approach, the new site of the small group of contemporary restaurants seems a happy place to pause for lunch or dinner. Boasting of its “bar food looked at with a chef’s mentality,” it has enough special touches in the preparation of familiar dishes to make its point. Among starters, called Bites, hungry folks can find anything from a charcuterie board to mac 'n' cheese, the latter with a few elegant touches. Other appealing preparations include The Roots salad with multiple beets, a mushroom pizza with garlic cream sauce, and a turkey club sandwich with cranberry aioli.

J Wolf Catering, 2271 N. Ventura Ave., F, Ventura. 628-9416: The new spot on Ventura Avenue in Ventura is owned by Ernest and Misty Romero, who definitely know their way around food, with an emphasis on organic and well-sourced elements. There are lots of barbecue items, with an especially popular pulled pork sandwich. The charbroiled chicken sandwich is another winner. There are an assortment of sides that can be purchased in three different sizes, one of which should suit any diner’s appetite. Take-out is a popular way to go, but there are also comfortable tables and chairs in the corner-sited spot. Sides include potato salad, mac 'n' cheese, collard greens and vegetarian chili. Desserts vary, but the brownies are definite winners.

Rokabab, a Mediterranean grill, 1321 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks: Handy once you get the hang of it, the grill offers traditional favorites, such as kababs, gyro, shawarma and salads. Diners get to make all the choices, but first-timers might have to spend some time with the menu, and with the pleasant order takers, to understand all aspects of the choices. The sauces and sides stand out as fresh and flavorful, and the baklava is very good.

Big Fish Poke, 2728 Townsgate Road, Thousand Oaks. 719-1151: Another spot for poke fans to check out, this one offering sushi as well. Pieces of raw fish are the center of the fare, which also includes seaweed salad and various combination options. The day's special chef choice chirashi bowl is a good bet, especially if you don't have a specific fish or preparation in mind. The sushi, including a 911 Roll that features salmon and avocado in a spicy mix, is a good option for anyone not up for a bowl.

Hollywood Beach Cafe, 117 Los Altos St., Oxnard. 590-2233, www.hollywoodbeachcafe.com: The new cafe at a longtime popular site close to sand and sea is owned by Frank Saslow and offers breakfast and lunch items throughout its 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. hours. Simple but attractive decor signals the beach setting throughout the large dining area and back patio. A small counter at the entry serves those who are either in a slight hurry or enjoy the conviviality. Winners on the lunch menu include the portabello mushroom burger and the seared tuna salad. There are other hearty salads and two versions of chili, Turkey Chili and Old School Chili, and special nods to favorites like fish and chips and a carne asada burrito.

Finch & Fork restaurant in the Kimpton Canary Hotel, 31 W. Carrillo, downtown Santa Barbara. 879-9100: Dinner is served from 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily, with breakfast and lunch also available at specified times. Those dining but not staying at the hotel are offered free valet parking. The menu is compact but includes many subtle innovations by Chef James Siao, including Jidori chicken served over a base of multi-grain polenta, Skuna Bay salmon with pork belly and potato hash, and desserts that include a milkshake with banana and caramel flavors and a flame-touched meringue topping.

Tonino's Place Pizzeria, 2805 Agoura Road, in Village Glen Plaza, Westlake Village. 370-3730, www.toninosplacepizzeria.com: Tonino’s offers fans of Italian food the usual items, plus the bonus of having it made fresh as you order it. But diners will find preparations they might not have experienced before in its Pizza Gourmet Speciale, which include Pizza via Appia, with burrata cheese and bresaola, and Pizza al Salmone, with the popular combination of smoked salmon, goat cheese, capers, onion and fresh dill. The house salad is a hearty winner, there are daily soup offerings, and lots of pasta preparations from which to choose.

Fresh and Fabulous, 221 W. Fifth St., Oxnard. 486-4547, www.myfreshandfabulous.com: Owner Magda Weydt has moved her popular downtown Oxnard restaurant to a new and more spacious site with increased cooking capacity. Seating is indoors in the curved front of the restaurant that is lined with windows, or in an attractively fenced patio. It's ordered at the counter, but the fresh and innovative food is served to your table. Breakfast and lunch are served until 2:30 on weekdays, with slightly extended hours on weekends. There are bountiful options for either time of day. Among items on the lunch menu are a spicy cauliflower “burger,” a Caprese salad, the Californian chicken sandwich and a chimichurri steak sandwich. Sides include fried cauliflower, pita chips and hummus, and fresh fruit.

Osteria Orto, 5719 Lake Lindero Drive, Agoura Hills, at Lindero Country Club: The pleasant setting inside and out is the perfect foil for unusually creative Italian food, including a roasted beet preparation with black olives, arugula and toasted pistachios, and a fettuccine main dish with “Six-Hour Braised Beef Ragu.”

Copa Cubana, Adjacent to 805 Bar & Grilled Cheese, 1575 Spinnaker Drive, #101. 642-9463: The Cuban offshoot of 805, operated by the same folks, is just a few months old and feeling its way through the traditional favorites. It’s set in a large, dark room with dark wood tables and chairs, but it’s also the area in the building in which musicians play each night. There are patios outdoors on the channel side and on the opposite side. If you dine there you can get Cuban food or grilled sandwiches on either side of the wall. The white bean and tomato soup, rope vieja made with shredded flank steak, Camarones (shrimp) creole and three-bean salad side are worth checking out.

Little Calf Creamery & Cafe, 652 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. 497-2000, LittleCalfCreamery.com: Family owned by Scott and Jen Levin, Little Calf is also family friendly. The creative ice cream flavors are made on site, with the process visible behind the counter as you enter. It’s order-at-the-counter, but delivery to your table is on handsome serving dishes in the comfortable contemporary site. The cafe also offers a selection of good burgers, sandwiches including a luscious mushroom version, and fresh and flavorful salads.

Kao Ramen by Mama, 573 E. Main St., Ventura. 667-8393: Mama, also known as Vorada “Pam” Boonklong, has added the ramen spot to her already existing downtown Main Street Ventura spot, Rice by Mama, a block away. There are plans to add sushi, but that hasn’t happened yet. Mama’s Thai specialty Mama Style Ramen, is outstanding, but it’s just one of many other ramen options, plus some other hearty dishes. Black sesame ice cream and pineapple sorbet served in a hollowed pineapple half are appealing desserts.

Mandala, featuring cuisine of Tibet, India and Japan, 11400 N. Ventura Ave., Ojai. 613-3048: The restaurant’s Tibetan owners do their native cuisine proud, but also have a knack for sushi, representing Japan, and the food of India, all of which are crowded onto an extensive menu. With a big parking lot just off Ventura Avenue as it approaches Ojai and a large open deck used for dining along with an ample interior, there is lots of space along with the bounty of menu choices. The good tomato egg-drop soup and chicken-sweet corn version signal that they know their way around deftly flavored soups, and there are a good sampling of appetizers even before you get to the main dishes and sushi options.

Deliteful LowCarb Restaurant & Bar, 322 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, in The Oaks mall. 418-5118: The new restaurant in the mall is directly inside a street-side entry on the first floor, near Nordstrom. Its menu embraces many attributes that may have special appeal to folks who are searching for sugar-free, gluten-free and additive-free fare. Important to all, every dish is made from scratch on the premises. Among the restaurant’s unusual items are a bacon, Brie & mushroom burger served on a bun made with almond flour; South African Spiced Chicken Bolognese and the DeLiteFul Pizza, prepared on a cauliflower crust.

Vagabond Coffee Shop, 760 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura. 643-1390: Having just celebrated its 50th anniversary of serving good homestyle food to hometown crowds and visitors to Ventura and the surrounding areas, owner Jolene McBee has a lot to be proud of, including an experienced staff that is always a step ahead of customers’ needs. Grilled liver and onions, a special on Wednesdays but available most other times as well, is still a favorite, but it is joined by a variety of other main dishes, sandwiches and sides. Prices are reasonable, and the establishment is true to its roots.

Poke Land, 1780 S. Victoria Ave., #D, Ventura. 289-1588: The first totally poke outlet in Ventura offers a basic dish that starts with cut up seafood and stems from a tradition in the Hawaiian Islands in which fishermen, at first, grew accustomed to taking the bits of fish remaining after the bulk was cut, seasoning it and using it as a casual fill-in meal. Fresh fish, uncooked, is popular throughout many Asian countries and has gained a large following in the U.S. Poke Land offers a counter full of options to select from white or brown rice, salad, sides of pineapple, avocado and such, but centers on the cubes of fish that can be tuna, spicy tuna, salmon, albacore, shrimp, octopus, scallop or yellowtail. A customer’s choices, packaged in a convenient bowl or box, can be eaten at the neat little spot or carried away to enjoy.

Agave Maria's Restaurant & Cantina, 710 Arneill Road, Camarillo. 383-2770. www.agavemarias.com: The companion Mexican restaurant site to one well established in Ojai serves the same mix of traditional dishes, along with a sprinkling of favorite American basics like pork spare ribs and a burger with a choice of toppings. The Shrimp Fiesta Salad uses the Mexican shrimp cocktail liquid sauce with a gentle kick as its dressing, which works very well, and basic dishes like tamales and chile rellenos meet a taste for familiar fare. A pleasant small flan is a light and delicious end to a meal.

On the Thirty, 706 Lindero Canyon Road, Oak Park. 818-707-3333. www.onthethirty.com: The new restaurant offers 30 craft beers, hence the name, and a generous assortment of boutique wines and handcrafted cocktails. It has an assortment of food that should allow everybody to find something perfect for the moment. Some suggestions include the Mix & Match, in which customers select from a list of high-quality charcuterie or cheeses; light, crisp and well-flavored pizzas, including the Goat Meets Pig version; lots of salads, small plates and even a list of more substantial dishes like Chilean sea bass, garlic-infused filet mignon or Bolognese pasta.

Mrs. Olson's Coffee Hut, 2800A S. Harbor Blvd., Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard. 985-9151: Celebrating its 42nd anniversary and newly settled into a spot at the entry of Channel Islands Harbor that is about five blocks from its original site, Mrs. Olson’s is fittingly recognized for its large portions of traditional breakfast and lunch items, plus some amusing diversions from the norm. It seats more than 100 but on weekends it gets crowded. Large sofas offer a comfortable spot to wait, or there’s always the channel to view. Their “cups” of fresh fruit are delicious and actually served in a medium-size bowl. Other satisfying dishes include a Mexican veggie omelet, Nature’s Pancakes, with granola in the batter, and a British favorite, bangers and eggs.

The Oaks Grill at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, 905 Country Club Drive, Ojai. 646-5511: The casual, tented eatery is one of the Inn’s familiar restaurants; more recently updated dining sites include the larger and more formal Olivella and the Wallace Neff Heritage Bar. The Oak is outdoors, part of which is extensively shaded by a high roof, warmed by heaters and shielded from cold or winds by clear plastic sides. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at The Oak, with a changing lunch menu including well-prepared items such as charred Brussels sprouts, a grilled skirt steak salad, a fish-of-the-day and spring vegetable angel hair pasta.

BLVD BURGER Co., 2145 Ventura Blvd., Old Town Camarillo. 389-9200: The new order-at-the-counter spot revels in the quality of its burgers and the originality of its combinations on the bun and off. All of the burgers listed on the small spot’s still-changing menu are BRGRs, with a spicy SCRPION, a luscious NAPA, and a refreshing MEDI among them. Sides of BLVD Street Corn, shishito peppers or cilantro ranch slaw are also fresh and well-prepared, as are the selected salads.

Charhouse BBQ and Grill, 706 Lindero Canyon Road, Oak Park. 818-852-7199 : The new barbecue house offers a one-page menu, with lots of good options, with fire-roasted artichokes as an opener and continuing through lots of barbecue, rotisserie and grilled items. The Charhouse Combo Platter offers a choice of two, three or four items from chicken, ribs and tri-tip to smoked hot links. Clam chowder and tri-tip soup are among the well-prepared starters.

Brasserie Communautaire, 4308 Tradewinds, Oxnard, off Wooley Road. 985-5614, info@brasseriecommunautaire.com: Owner James Chan and executive chef Kurt Steeber bring polished credentials to the task of providing distinctive dishes that many diners might never have previously enjoyed, prepared with an innovative spirit. Brasserie C. offers a family meal daily that presents a starter, an amuse bouche, a salad, wine options and dessert. But it’s also possible to choose by item from among appetizers, sides, charcuterie, salads and entrées if you prefer. Or just come to the long bar at Happy Hour and sample wines, beers or cider.